Near three hundred Chinese and international specialists and scholars participated at the “Symposium on Biophysics and Cutting-Edge Technology: Charting the Future Medicine Cum Inaugural Meeting of International Consortium for Rheumatology Research”, which was organized by Macau University of Science and Technology; the grand opening of the event took place in Zhongshan on December 6 & 7, 2016.
Guests attended the Opening Ceremony include Dr. Erwin Neher, Nobel Prize Winner in Physiology or Medicine, Mr. Ma Chi Ngai, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of Macau Science and Technology Development Fund, Chair Professor Liu Liang, President of Macau University of Science and Technology, Academician Zhou Honghao of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), Academician Wang Guangji of CAE, Academician Ning Guang of CAE, Mr. Yang Wenlong, Vice Mayor of Zhongshan, Mr. Lai Zhitian, Chairman of the Board of Zhongshan Zhongzhi Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., and experts from China, Germany, the U.S., Japan, and Taiwan (China), Hong Kong (China), Macau (China), and other countries and regions. The Symposium aims to explore the applications and accomplishments of biophysics and other multi-disciplinary innovative technology in research of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and to inaugurate the “International Consortium for Rheumatology Research”.
Officiating guests cut the ribbons at the opening ceremony
Chair Professor Liu Liang addressed the Ceremony, he expressed gratitude to the Macau Science and Technology Development Fund, the People’s Government of Zhongshan, the Zhongshan Zhongzhi Pharmaceutical Group, the Cross-Strait Scientific Collaboration Center for Chinese Medicine, the Zhongshan Pharmaceutical Association, and other organizations for their tremendous support. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)houses the wisdoms of the Chinese nation, which has been imparted to and applied by more than one hundred countries in the world and is becoming an important contribution in defending the mankind’s health. TCM’s unique theories and methods for diagnosis and treatment have great value in prevention and treatment of diseases, which required integration of modern multi-disciplinary cutting-edge technologies and techniques in conducting integrative research so as to systematically elucidate the scientific principles behind TCM and set up contemporary TCM clinic diagnosis protocols and pharmaceutical production quality standards. This will greatly advance modernization of TCM and has great significances by extending TCM to the world. It also bring about new insights and discoveries for development and progress of modern medical science and make great contributions for human health. The opening of the Symposium and the inauguration of the International Consortium for Rheumatology Research has constructed a new platform for integration and international collaboration of Chinese medicine and western medicine, which enabled TCM to become more acknowledged as an important part in the composition of world medicine.
Mr. Ma Chi Ngai delivered a speech, noting that the Macau S.A.R. Government has made TCM a key area in implementing the policy of adequate diversification of economy, which has gained positive support by the Central Government. The Macau Government has been making continuous efforts in providing support for the local Macau institutions to advance development of TCM, and provids support for relevant research projects, higher education, and academic conferences. In 2011, the Macau Government supported and established the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines (SKL); in recent years, the SKL has produced remarkable effects in scientific research and talent-training for TCM, and becomes a well-formed platform for engaging in higher-level TCM research. The Government will continue to support TCM education, research, and industrial development, and he would like to invite the specialists at the event to take part in Macau’s TCM development.
Vice Mayor Yang Wenlong expressed sincere thanks to M.U.S.T for hosting the conference in Zhongshan, which showcased the close partnership between Guangdong and Macau in TCM, life sciences, and other areas, and helped improve the science and research development of Zhongshan. He wishes that there will be more multi-dimensional collaborations between Guangdong and Macau in the future.
Professor Erwin Neher also thanked M.U.S.T. for inviting him to attend the event; he noted that the cross-disciplinary development of biophysics and TCM has immeasurable potentials, which greatly advance the development of human medical science.
Chairman Lai Zhitian gave a speech and pointed out that Zhongshan has rich experience in biophysics research; the Symposium would be able to facilitate TCM collaboration between Guangdong and Macau, advance the succession of TCM, and make contributions for the public’s well-being.
Group photo of the officiating guests at the opening ceremony(From left: Chair Professor Liu Liang, Academician Ning Guang, Academician Zhou Honghao, Chairman Ma Chi Ngai, Professor Erwin Neher, Academician Wang Guangji, Vice Mayor Yang Wenlong, Mr. Lai Zhitian)
The “International Consortium for Rheumatology Research” was inaugurated at the event; the Consortium was initiated by M.U.S.T. Fifty-five founding members of the Consortium are from China, the U.S., Singapore, Taiwan (China), Hong Kong (China), Macau (China), and other countries and regions; they are specialists of clinical research and basic research of rheumatology diseases from 39 institutions. The Consortium will become an important platform in reinforcing international cooperation in clinical research and basic research of rheumatism.
At the 1st Meeting of the 1st Council of the Consortium, the Consortium Regulations were approved; Chair Professor Liu Liang was elected as Chairman, Professor Li Zhan Guo, Director of the rheumatology department of Peking University People’s Hospital, Professor Jiang Quan, Director of the rheumatology department of Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Professor Yao Qingping from Medical School of Stony Brook University, U.S.A., Professor Lv Li Wei of the Department of Pathology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, and Professor James Cheng-Chung Wei, the School of Medicine at Chung Shan Medical University (CSMU), Taiwan, were elected as Vice Chairman, and Professor Zhou Hua of Faculty of Chinese Medicine, M.U.S.T. was elected as Secretary. The Consortium will facilitate members in research of new diagnosis molecular markers for rheumatic diseases, research and development of multi-target medical treatment for rheumatic diseases and other complex diseases, and offer high-standard exchange and cooperation in clinical research on treatment of arthritis by combining Chinese medicine and western medicine.
The event was organized by M.U.S.T., co-organized by the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines (Macau University of Science and Technology), the Joint Laboratory of State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese of Medicine of Macau University of Science and Technology and Zhongshan Zhongzhi Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., and the Zhongshan Zhongzhi Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., and co-organized by the Cross-Strait Scientific Collaboration Center for Chinese Medicine, the Faculty of Chinese Medicine of M.U.S.T., and the Zhongshan Pharmaceutical Association; the event also gained support by the Macau Science and Technology Development Fund.
